If we form a new coalition third party, one with the main platform of: "We must first make the nation safe to argue in, before continuing the argument"; it will attract all the discontented, not just the left and some elements of the Independents. The "new" part insures that no pre-conceived baggage is brought along that would turn-off prospects from the Indi's, Libertarians, or honest Conservatives who may otherwise be very interested in such a reform movement; and insure that small 3rd party jealousies, insistences on having "top billing", and other "self-absorbed" problems are kept to a minimum.
Geting around the wholly-controlled mainstream media will be the biggest challenge, as we have seen with the Kucinich and Paul campaigns: But there are ways to do this. There are ways to turn their electronic networks meant to distract and control to our advantage as well. After all, we do have some very smart people on our side. And we have "Truth" on our side as well; which is not wisely discounted. And there are ways to form, maintain, and grow a coalition of widely different people from every shade of the political spectrum. Because all these very discontented people have one thing in common: We believe the current system is utterly broken, and that major and meaningful change must take place. That the government is no longer in the control of the People; and that it is no longer working in our interests. That single shared belief is all that is required: Because it is so powerful, so meaningful to all who understand, that it is self-evident and self-motivating. And it will be powerful enough to allow the new coalition to withstand the internal pressures of adapting a platform: Which by definition will be non-partisan and based on shared beliefs: Where the polarizing issues are put off until the imperatives of reform are first met.
All that is really needed to form this new coalition (which could start with over 20% of the electorate before even campaigning), is the will do so. And enough well-known political leaders of all stripes joining who are willing to take second billing; and not have the spot light on them all of the time: Knowing from the very beginning that they may not be the actual candidates.
I would implore our national reform movement leaders to consider this. We cannot do it without you; as your input, your charisma, your contacts, your followers will be needed for success. With enough of you, and a wide variety of you signing on, we can be successful. Never in the history of the U.S. has there been a better time for a third party to prosper! And never in our history has one been so desperately needed.
I envision this new coalition having a brief little national convention: Where a number of well-known reform leaders from all over the political spectrum take a straw, and the shortest straw is the candidate. Because the standard-bearer is just the name on the ballot. The movement is what will matter: It, not the candidate, will be our banner. So all the reform leaders will pledge to support the movement without partisan bickering, campaign equally hard, and all act as if they were candidates. And all will move into positions of power when the effort is successful. This movement would attract members of Congress and others such as Mayors, State Representatives, even Governors: They should be allowed to join, and still maintain their current party affiliation until the next election if they wish; as long as they are willing to support our efforts. After all, the two-party system has turned into a sham; and it's time the tables were turned on it.
This concept is revolutionary, and irresistible. I am not the first to think of this of course, nor the only one subscribing. It is sprouting nation-wide simultaneously in many concerned people's mind as the main and best chance we have to save this country. After all, what do we have to lose? And what do we have to gain: A nation once again free from a lying and suppressing controlled mainstream media, a government no longer is ruled by unseen forces that work for their own hidden purposes (or at least a major victory, where those forces are finally put on the defensive and are forced into retreat). What we have to gain is a system that is no longer dominated by the corrupting influence of money.
All just a dream? Sure it is. So was racial equality. So was Women's Rights. So was the Ecology movement in the 60's and 70's . And it took nation-wide coalitions to make the first successes happen there, too.
Many of us feel that we will not get another four years: That this may indeed be our last chance. If this is so, then I want to at least go down fighting. I want my tombstone to read: "This person tried to help". And I want my children to know that there are people who still care, who are willing to make sacrifices to achieve the results that matter, that there is more to wanting change than just talking about it. And that a free nation cannot survive if it continues to live a lie; and if not enough of its citizens are willing to risk something real to save it from destruction.
I cannot think of another way to directly affect the problems that are confronting this nation, or any way of affecting anything at all this year, for that matter. Nor can I honesty believe that any other course would be anything more than wasted effort in the face of a system that no longer even bothers to pretend to care or notice. And I am done lying to myself: We have seen the curtain pulled back; gazed upon the Wizard. There is no going back to complacency now: So what are we going to do about it?
